In 2002, when the world committed to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, Europe went one step further and pledged to halt the loss completely. A set of 26 indicators, known as 'Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators' (SEBI 2010), was compiled to measure change. The first assessment based on SEBI 2010 by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that despite progress, biodiversity loss continues. It also identified important gaps in our knowledge.

Europe's biodiversity is still under serious pressure and faces grave risks. Although we will miss the target of halting the biodiversity loss in Europe by 2010, some progress is being made. As [EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas] said recently in Athens, the post-2010 target should be ambitious, measurable and clear. It should maintain the emphasis given to the intrinsic value of biodiversity while also recognising the value of healthy and resilient ecosystems and the services they provide.

EEA Executive Director Professor Jacqueline McGlade

The EEA's report "
Progress towards the European 2010 biodiversity target", finds that European
biodiversity is still under serious pressure and that the policy
response is not yet adequate to halt the general decline. Biodiversity
faces grave risks at the level of genes, species and ecosystems.

On 13 July, the European Commission released a '
Composite report' to the European Council and Parliament on the
implementation of the
Habitats Directive. Responding to the two reports' findings, EEA
Executive Director Professor Jacqueline McGlade said:

"Europe's biodiversity is still under serious pressure and faces
grave risks. Although we will miss the target of halting the
biodiversity loss in Europe by 2010, some progress is being made. As
[EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas] said recently in Athens,
the post-2010 target should be ambitious, measurable and clear. It
should maintain the emphasis given to the intrinsic value of
biodiversity while also recognising the value of healthy and resilient
ecosystems and the services they provide".

The next major assessment based on the indicators will be done in
2010.

Key findings from the EEA report

Substantial progress has been made in
protecting habitats. Some 17 % of EU land area is now included in the
Natura 2000 network and 16 % protected under national schemes across 39
countries.

Around 40-85 % of habitats and 40-70 % of
species of European interest have an unfavourable conservation status.
Grasslands and wetlands across Europe are particularly at risk.

Legislation on atmospheric emissions, freshwater quality
and waste water treatment has reduced the pressure on biodiversity.
Specific measures have also relieved agriculture-related pressures,
although further efforts are required.

Water quality has generally improved in
fresh waters.

Overexploitation of marine fisheries
remains a threat to marine ecosystems, with some 45 % of assessed
European stocks falling outside safe biological limits.

Invasive alien species remain a threat,
increasingly so in marine systems.

Urban sprawl and abandonment of
agricultural land put pressure on natural and semi-natural areas.
Forest fragmentation is another key threat and has increased since
1990.

SEBI 2010 in brief

The SEBI 2010 process aims to ensure consistency between
biodiversity indicator sets at the national and international levels,
while trying to give a coherent and relevant assessment of the state of
biodiversity in Europe. The SEBI 2010 set currently comprises 26
indicators.